A Rarity

It is a sad situation when you want to talk to someone, and find nobody.

I just saw a film that moved me more than I ever thought it would. Sahib Bibi aur Gulam. I would go so far as to call it a masterpiece. So many of my generation will never understand it, connect to it, find it ‘corny’. I don’t.

It portrays a depth of emotion that is timeless. From the innocence of Rehman, to the self indulgence of Guru Dutt, from the pain of Meena Kumari, to the liveliness of Waheeda Rehman – there is no emotion that does not touch me somewhere very deep inside. The story may be set in a bygone era, the events depicted no longer relevant, but the emotions never change, never lose their relevance.

The dagger of pain and desperation pierces through the human heart as sharply today as it did 150 years ago. The joy of first love remains the same, as does the pain of losing someone you love, literally or figuratively.

It isn’t that these emotions have never been depicted well in films earlier. There are many films which could rival, and easily outdo Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam in terms of cinematic excellence. But somehow this movie touched me deeply, perhaps more than any other so far. I now wonder …. Was it the film, or was it just me??? ;)